October Term 2011 · Docket 10-1399
Does a workers' compensation statute require a formal agency award before benefits begin?
The dispute centers on whether an employer must pay benefits immediately or wait for a formal agency order.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Keisler argued the term award has a specific meaning in the Act.
Mr. Palmore argued the side that brought the case's interpretation makes the provision impossible to apply.
Mr. Gillelan stated Dana Roberts was injured in 2002 but awarded compensation in 2007.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-23
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Dana Roberts worked for Sea-Land Services. He became disabled in 2002. He received compensation in 2007. The parties disagree on the start date for benefits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 15-1
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 11, 2012.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the court to reject the employer's interpretation of the statute.
the opposing side wants the court to require a formal agency award before benefits start.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 15-1
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the statute allows benefits without a formal agency order.
the opposing side argues the statute requires a formal agency order for benefits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 15-1
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if the statute applies to survivors currently receiving compensation.
Justice Scalia asked if receiving compensation requires a formal agency award.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-23
Why it matters
This case defines when employers must pay disability benefits. It affects the timing of payments for injured workers. It clarifies the role of agency orders in compensation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 15-1
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-23
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 15-1
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.